I think it's obvious that they need to get a true closer and move Benoit back to the 8th inning (if the Tigers can sign him to a decent contract, I wouldn't break the bank for Benoit). Joe Nathan, Fernando Rodney and Grant Balfour are all available this offseason and would be huge upgrades to Benoit. They need a few quality left handers out of the pen to replace Coke and hopefully Smyly who should probably either be a start or be shipped away. I'm not sure how who could fill these two spots as of yet I haven't looked too close at it yet, possibly Javier Lopez?

I don't have confidence in Perez or Nick just yet, they need a year possibly multiple years for Perez before they will be passable as big leaguers. So that means you need to fill two large holes on the field of left and 2nd base. Ben Zobrist, Mark Ellis and Omar Infante are the only big name 2nd baseman possibly being available, I'd love to keep Omar but I think he's going to get paid and I think the Tigers won't be willing to spend it on him. As for being in the LF position I think it's really a crap shoot. You could go out and sign some one or you could roll with Dirks again, you'll probably get similar results in both cases unless you are will to spend a great deal of cash. If they do decide to sign someone I'd like someone with a speed to insert at the bottom of the lineup, it's obvious that the top won't be allow to steal bases because it takes the bat out of the big guys hands so I'd like to see our speed moved to the bottom of the lineup. Rajai Davis or Nate McLouth could be interesting signings.

I'll be interested to see what Dombrowski does this offseason, I think Leyland will return, Dombrowski has been quoted as saying he has a job as a manager if he wants it and I think Leyland wants to win one more WS before retiring.

October 20th, 2013, 10:46 am

The Legend

HC – Jim Caldwell

Joined: February 11th, 2005, 3:01 pmPosts: 4699Location: WSU

Re: 2014 Tigers

plenty of rumors out there right now. smyly entering the rotation, scherzer and porcello are trade bait, likely to trade just one of them though. prince fielder also being shopped with 7 yrs/$168 million

what might happen?

The big question is how much more money is Ilitch willing or able to throw into this. He s supposedly running the team at a loss bc he wants a WS ring so bad. He s 80+ so I think he doubles down into it more, though it might be smarter to trade some pricey assets and secure some prospects so the team can be both profitable and good 5 years from now. I dont know how far under they are but winning a World Series might be the only way to get out of the financial mess by satisfying Ilitch's desire for a WS win and then they might be more willing to make a trade.

My 2014 Tigers:

Bullpen is the obvious place to start bc it needs to be better:

Dombrowski already said that Alburquerque and Rondon will be back and that Rondon injury was not serious. Porcello and Scherzer are essentially for sale. If it were me I would look at it as: Porcello is still improving and his best baseball is ahead of him while Scherzer is right now at his peak and is unlikely to ever have a season like the one he just had ever again. Regardless, I have a hard time Ilitch buying that when he wants to win the WS yesterday.

Bullpen: RHP Clippard, RHP Storen, RHP Rondon, RHP Alburquerque, LHP JP Howell, LHP Coke, CP Joe NathanBetter talent than a year ago, Clippard and Storen are very good set up men while Rondon and Storen have a shot to close. Howelll should be the lefty specialist and Coke can be more of a long man who can help out vs lefties also assuming he figures out whatever was wrong with him in 2013. Nathan closes until the wheels come off his body. I dont think Smyly has ever pitched into the 7th inning as a starter before so using Coke as a long man adds some extra value.

Infield: I dont see any way they are able to trade Fielder. I suggest Cabrera and Fielder take a few more DH days and hopefully Fielder finds a new woman, gets in a lil better shape and clears his head enough that at least a couple of his remaining 7 seasons are worth anything. Adding Rendon via trade at least shows some semblance of concern for the future by setting the middle infield of the future in place.

Outfield: Need a LF and a leadoff guy though I suppose they may consider trading AJax, perhaps a new hitting coach can save him a few strikeouts and up his BA 10-15 points.Sign Shin Soo-Choo and put him in left field.

LF: Choo CF: Jackson RF: Hunter OF: Dirks

Catcher: Id like to see a move made here but Avila is still young and has had some success hitting. Ausmus could be a good hire for Avila as could a solid hitting coach. Maybe James McCann makes it onto the roster at some point this season. I dont believe in Bryan Holaday being a legit No 2 candidate bc Avila takes so much abuse that he really needs someone capable of catching 60 games to split with him.

C: Avila C: Dioner Navarro (right handed and coming off a good year hitting, will have to pay more than he s actually worth unfortunately)

2 big signings, one little one, and one big trade. Would expect the regular season record to be about the same 94-96 wins but maybe be a little better equipped in the playoffs with the bullpen and Choo adding power and ability to get on base at the top of the order. Moving the speed to the bottom with Jackson and Iglesias lets them be a lil more active on the bases.

I can see DD swinging another trade with Miami. Same tigers, but get Stanton and a RP in return. We could sweeten the deal by throwing Infante in.

who do you want playing 2b and who s the lead off hitter?

Peralta still has a year left on his current deal doesn't he? He can play 2nd. And Jackson would be lead off. But, if Iglacious can hit for a higher average, his speed makes him a good lead off candidate.

November 14th, 2013, 2:43 pm

The Legend

HC – Jim Caldwell

Joined: February 11th, 2005, 3:01 pmPosts: 4699Location: WSU

Re: 2014 Tigers

BillySims wrote:

The Legend wrote:

BillySims wrote:

I can see DD swinging another trade with Miami. Same tigers, but get Stanton and a RP in return. We could sweeten the deal by throwing Infante in.

who do you want playing 2b and who s the lead off hitter?

Peralta still has a year left on his current deal doesn't he? He can play 2nd. And Jackson would be lead off. But, if Iglacious can hit for a higher average, his speed makes him a good lead off candidate.

peralta at 2b isnt a bad idea particulary if teams get scared away by the PED suspension with him - he is a free agent though. id like to see them get a better leadoff option than either jackson or iglesias. if they do, they could consider working on jackson s power, maybe get him from this 10-15 HR range up to low 20s at a difft spot in the order like 6th where his speed could still be of value

November 14th, 2013, 8:36 pm

conversion02

RIP Killer

Joined: January 26th, 2005, 9:34 pmPosts: 10773Location: Sycamore, IL

Re: 2014 Tigers

Peralta is talking about how he wants 3 yrs and $45M. No thanks. Resign infante for 3 yrs $25M

Dream #1: trade fielder for anything. Just to get out of his contract. Vmart should no doubt be resigned after next year to DH. Miggy move to first and nick C back to 3rd. Sign choo or ellsbury for LF. Resign infante.

Since they won't be able to move prince...nick C, porcello, and minor leaguer for a young reliever and 2B, like legend mentioned. That's the most likely move, but not so sure Washington would go for that. Do they really need nick at 3B? They're set in the OF. Porcello isn't much of an improvement on what they have now.

______________________Fire everyone; clean house!

November 14th, 2013, 9:05 pm

The Legend

HC – Jim Caldwell

Joined: February 11th, 2005, 3:01 pmPosts: 4699Location: WSU

Re: 2014 Tigers

conversion02 wrote:

Peralta is talking about how he wants 3 yrs and $45M. No thanks. Resign infante for 3 yrs $25M

Dream #1: trade fielder for anything. Just to get out of his contract. Vmart should no doubt be resigned after next year to DH. Miggy move to first and nick C back to 3rd. Sign choo or ellsbury for LF. Resign infante.

Since they won't be able to move prince...nick C, porcello, and minor leaguer for a young reliever and 2B, like legend mentioned. That's the most likely move, but not so sure Washington would go for that. Do they really need nick at 3B? They're set in the OF. Porcello isn't much of an improvement on what they have now.

yeah i dunno if washington would make that trade, they d have to really like castellanos more than rendon and have some high hopes for porcello being better in the NL and he d only be there 4th guy. not sure how other clubs view jake thompson as a prospect but he s performed to expectations or better so far.

Fielder had a rough year. But, I don't think we can trade him. I think we can fix his bat simply by flipping him and Cabrera in the line up every other week or so.

November 15th, 2013, 9:03 am

The Legend

HC – Jim Caldwell

Joined: February 11th, 2005, 3:01 pmPosts: 4699Location: WSU

Re: 2014 Tigers

BillySims wrote:

Fielder had a rough year. But, I don't think we can trade him. I think we can fix his bat simply by flipping him and Cabrera in the line up every other week or so.

probably not, im pretty confident he ll be a great rather than above average hitter agin at least for next 2-3 years but he wont be worth the last few years on his deal unless he can be hidden as a DH somewhere. maybe the tigers wait this out a bit longer, let fielder put a strong half season together and see what you can get for him knowing that you ll eat part of his contract in a trade.

November 19th, 2013, 11:12 pm

conversion02

RIP Killer

Joined: January 26th, 2005, 9:34 pmPosts: 10773Location: Sycamore, IL

Re: 2014 Tigers

I love the coaching staff hires of Joyner and Vizquel. I think the viz signing was genius. You get a Venezuelan, so there's the bilingual part, plus, you get a future HOFer that a lot of guys have played against and have gobs of respect for. I love that signing,

______________________Fire everyone; clean house!

November 20th, 2013, 1:29 am

The Legend

HC – Jim Caldwell

Joined: February 11th, 2005, 3:01 pmPosts: 4699Location: WSU

Re: 2014 Tigers

The Legend wrote:

conversion02 wrote:

Peralta is talking about how he wants 3 yrs and $45M. No thanks. Resign infante for 3 yrs $25M

Dream #1: trade fielder for anything. Just to get out of his contract. Vmart should no doubt be resigned after next year to DH. Miggy move to first and nick C back to 3rd. Sign choo or ellsbury for LF. Resign infante.

Since they won't be able to move prince...nick C, porcello, and minor leaguer for a young reliever and 2B, like legend mentioned. That's the most likely move, but not so sure Washington would go for that. Do they really need nick at 3B? They're set in the OF. Porcello isn't much of an improvement on what they have now.

yeah i dunno if washington would make that trade, they d have to really like castellanos more than rendon and have some high hopes for porcello being better in the NL and he d only be there 4th guy. not sure how other clubs view jake thompson as a prospect but he s performed to expectations or better so far.

could texas be a landing spot for fielder? for maybe ian kinsler?

BOOM SHAKALAKA!!!!

November 21st, 2013, 12:42 am

aManNamedSuh

National Champion

Joined: July 14th, 2005, 11:58 amPosts: 865

Re: 2014 Tigers

The Legend wrote:

The Legend wrote:

conversion02 wrote:

Peralta is talking about how he wants 3 yrs and $45M. No thanks. Resign infante for 3 yrs $25M

Dream #1: trade fielder for anything. Just to get out of his contract. Vmart should no doubt be resigned after next year to DH. Miggy move to first and nick C back to 3rd. Sign choo or ellsbury for LF. Resign infante.

Since they won't be able to move prince...nick C, porcello, and minor leaguer for a young reliever and 2B, like legend mentioned. That's the most likely move, but not so sure Washington would go for that. Do they really need nick at 3B? They're set in the OF. Porcello isn't much of an improvement on what they have now.

yeah i dunno if washington would make that trade, they d have to really like castellanos more than rendon and have some high hopes for porcello being better in the NL and he d only be there 4th guy. not sure how other clubs view jake thompson as a prospect but he s performed to expectations or better so far.

could texas be a landing spot for fielder? for maybe ian kinsler?

BOOM SHAKALAKA!!!!

Nice, I'm impressed.

November 21st, 2013, 10:54 am

conversion02

RIP Killer

Joined: January 26th, 2005, 9:34 pmPosts: 10773Location: Sycamore, IL

Re: 2014 Tigers

I'm hearing they're talking to choo to play LF

Choo - Ajax - HunterCastellanos - Iggy - Kinsler - MiggyAvila

I would love to see infante resigned on a 2 yr deal to play third. He could help ease castellanos into third and play second or short. Infante is a very solid defender who has been underrated. Also, peralta still has to be in play for third base as well. I can't see 3 yr $45M that he wants being even approachable though.

Also, hearing Ajax name being mentioned by DD as on the trading block.